SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Limiting sugar
is a no-brainer
DEAR DR. ROACH: Medical
advice is to reduce sugar consump-
tion. Does this apply to 100 percent
fruit juices, fresh fruit, sweetened
cereal products or other fruit-sweet-
ened products? — R.B.
ANSWER: I think it makes sense
to limit sugar intake, as most North
Americans take in remarkably large
quantities of sugar. This week, while
giving a lecture at the medical
school, I noticed that the carbonated
sodas served contained 45 grams of
added sugar per can. That’s more
than the American Heart Association
recommends in a day (no more than
25 grams of added sugar per day for
women, 40 grams a day for men)! Be
careful of products that claim to be
sweetened by fruit juice or fruit
sugar; this still counts as added
sugar.
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Choosing to work with someone you
once thought might have been disloyal
is a courageous move. The logical next
step is to talk things out so there’ll be
no reason for raising suspicions again.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Take
your time making a decision about a
personal or work-related relationship.
New facts are still coming in, and
you’ll want to know the full story
before you take a definitive step.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
Expect to learn something new about
an old problem. This could provide
some insight into how the problem
began, and why it still defies efforts to
find a resolution. Good luck.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) An
uneasy work-related relationship can
I do make an exception for fruits,
as the body processes natural sugars
from fruit differently. You can try
this out at home by eating four medi-
um-size oranges or drinking its
equivalent in an 8-ounce (250 ml)
glass of orange juice. I think you will
find a big difference in how full you
feel.
Although reducing sugar is criti-
cal for diabetics and is very impor-
tant for anyone trying to lose weight,
even for people with no sugar or
weight problems, the evidence is
accumulating that eating too much
added sugar increases future risk for
heart disease and diabetes.
Diabetes has become epidemic in
North America. The booklet on it
provides insight on its diagnosis and
treatment. Readers can order a copy
by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 402,
Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-
6475. Enclose a check or money
order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6
Can. with the recipient’s printed
name and address. Please allow four
weeks for delivery.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have statin
myopathy. I am in pure agony. I am
taking muscle relaxants and pain
relievers. The muscles all over my
body ache. I have had pain for two
months. Do you have any advice or
remedies? — B.A.
ANSWER: Statin drugs are used
to reduce risk for people with an
increased chance for heart attack,
depending on cholesterol levels,
blood pressure, family history and
other risk factors for coronary heart
disease. As many as 9 percent of
people treated with statins have mus-
cle aches, which can be severe.
The treatment is stopping the
statin. After stopping, the average
time for symptoms to get better is
two months. Only 7 percent have
symptoms after six months.
Coenzyme Q-10 has shown promise
as a treatment for statin myopathy, in
the dose of 200 mg a day, once daily
or divided. It doesn’t work for every-
body.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently I
was told that the “new way” to take
blood pressure readings was to hold
your arm against your chest and over
your heart. I have not seen this on the
Web anywhere. Is this true? — W.S.
ANSWER: It’s not so new: We
have long known that the arm should
be at the same height as the heart.
The arm also should be supported.
Otherwise, the readings will be
slightly (or not so slightly) off.
be eased with compromises by both
sides. The parties might consider put-
ting the agreed-upon changes in writ-
ing in case of a future misunderstand-
ing.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Oh, you
lucky Felines: Your romantic aspects
are in absolutely purrrfect form. Don’t
be surprised at how especially attentive
the ladies and gentlemen in your life
are going to be this week.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Looking to prove yourself in a dif-
ficult situation is laudable. But try pay-
ing more attention to advice from expe-
rienced contacts. It could help you
avoid time-wasting missteps.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) A business decision seems easy
enough to make based on what you
know. But this week could bring new
facts to light, and you might have to do
some heavy rethinking.
SCORPIO
(October
23
to
November 21) Feeling sure about the
steps you expect to take is great. But
you may need to share a few dollops of
that confidence with those who have
some doubts about your plans.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) A sense of well-being
dominates much of the week. A slight-
ly depressed mood could set in on the
weekend. But being with family and
friends helps shoo it away.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) You appear to be walking
your life’s path like the sure-footed
Goat you are. But someone might feel
you could do better. Listen to the
advice, but make up your own mind.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) With positive signs grow-
ing stronger, Aquarians could find
themselves facing choices that are each
too good to turn down. Best advice: Go
for the one you feel most comfortable
with.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Someone you know might need your
comfort and wisdom during a particu-
larly difficult period. Your encouraging
words help restore self-confidence and
rebuild strength.
5 B
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